Input power sharing

ABSTRACT

An input power sharing control circuit is provided. The control circuit includes a plurality of current limiting circuits each circuit adapted to receive power from one of a plurality of independent power sources, a power switching control circuit adapted to receive power from the plurality of independent power sources and provide a variable power output and a load coupled to the output of the power switching control circuit, wherein the value of the load impedance and the value of the voltage of the output power controls the variable power output.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/162,165 filed Jun. 3, 2002, titled “INPUT POWER SHARING” and commonlyassigned, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of electroniccircuits and, in particular, to input power sharing.

BACKGROUND

With the improvements in technology and in particular the demands forinformation, the need for power is ever increasing. Many types ofelectronics equipment are collocated and often this equipment is poweredseparately. In particular many types of telecommunications equipment areoften collocated e.g. repeater housings, service units, chassis, andetc. Power provided for the collocated equipment may originate from thesame or different sources. For example remote units can be line poweredfrom the central office. In many situations power is not only needed torun the telecommunications equipment but to provide power for otherservices such as monitoring, fault detection, cooling, life lineservices, and the like. With the increasing demand for data andlimitations on power from central offices there is often insufficientpower available to provide additional services by a single piece ofequipment. In these types of situations any excess power is often unusedor unavailable.

For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below whichwill become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading andunderstanding the present specification, there is a need in the art fora technique to provide input power sharing.

SUMMARY

The above-mentioned problems with power sharing and other problems areaddressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understoodby reading and studying the following specification. Specifically,embodiments of the present invention provide control of input powersharing for electronics equipment.

In one embodiment, an input power sharing control circuit is provided.The control circuit includes a plurality of current limiting circuitseach circuit adapted to receive power from one of a plurality ofindependent power sources, a power switching control circuit adapted toreceive power from the plurality of independent power sources andprovide a variable power output and a load coupled to the output of thepower switching control circuit, wherein the value of the load impedanceand the value of the voltage of the output power controls the variablepower output.

In another embodiment, an input power sharing control circuit isprovided. The circuit includes a plurality of current limiting circuitseach circuit adapted to receive a power input from one of a plurality ofinput power sources. The plurality of input power sources issubstantially equal. The circuit further includes a plurality of inputfilter circuits, each circuit adapted to couple to one of the pluralityof current limiting circuits, a power ORing circuit adapted toselectively couple to each of the power inputs and a power switchingcontrol circuit coupled to each of the plurality of input filters. Thepower switching control circuit is adapted to receive power from thepower ORing circuit and provide a variable output power. The controlcircuit further includes a load coupled to the output of the powerswitching control circuit, wherein the value of the load impedancecontrols the variable output power.

In an alternate embodiment, a method of input power sharing is provided.The method includes receiving power from multiple input power sourcesand sharing the combined power from the multiple input power sources andproducing a variable output power. Producing a variable output power,comprises controlling the current from each of the multiple input powersources, providing the controlled current to a first source/drain regionof a switching transistor, regulating the output power by controllingthe on time for the switching transistor based on the controlled currentof the multiple input power sources and providing the output power to afunctional circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an input power sharingcircuit according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a power switchingcontrol circuit for use in an input power sharing circuit as shown inFIG. 1 according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a power switchingcontrol circuit for use in an input power sharing circuit as shown inFIG. 1 according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of a powerswitching control circuit for use in an input power sharing circuit asshown in FIG. 1 according to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a power switchingcontrol circuit for use in an input power sharing circuit as shown inFIG. 1 according to the teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown byway of illustration specific illustrative embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. These embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in alimiting sense.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an input power-sharingscheme. Power sharing is accomplished using power-switching circuits. Inone embodiment, the power switching control circuit is a discontinuousboost power converter. This power supply topology has the property thatthe output voltage is equal to or greater than the input voltage minusany circuit voltage losses, e.g. diode voltage drops. In one embodiment,the power switching control circuit is a discontinuous power converterand the power supply topology has the property that the output voltageis less than, equal to or greater than the input voltage. One feature ofthese power supply topologies is that the current into the power supplyis determined by an input inductor or transformer, input voltage and theswitching transistor on time. In one embodiment, the switchingtransistor on time is controlled based on the output voltage and powerlevel by a pulse width modulator circuit and feedback circuitry.

Typically with a discontinuous power converter there is a single inputvoltage to power the discontinuous power converter. Embodiments of thepresent invention include multiple input voltages. Advantageously,equipment that is collocated and powered independently benefits from theaddition of an input power sharing circuit. An input power sharingcircuit will allow the use of power from more than one source to be usedcollectively to power additional equipment and/or services.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.Electronic module 100 includes an input power sharing circuit 175 and afunctional circuit 113. Typically input power sharing circuit 175 andfunctional circuit 113 are configured on a common circuit board suchthat electronic module 100 can be inserted into a system such as achassis. In one embodiment, input power sharing circuit 175 isconfigured on a board separate from functional circuit 113.Advantageously input power sharing circuit 175 is included in electronicmodule 100 to enable sharing of power from multiple sources in a commonconfiguration. For clarity in description, the components of electronicmodule 100 are described in terms of logical interfaces betweencomponents. It is understood that these interfaces do not require norexclude physical interfaces that require one circuit to be selectivelyplugged into the other circuit. The term is used merely for conveniencein description.

Input power sharing circuit 175 includes a power switching controlcircuit 130 adapted to receive voltage inputs from multiple voltagesources. In one embodiment, power switching control circuit 130 is adiscontinuous power switching control circuit, a discontinuous fly backconverter or the like. Input power sharing circuit 100 receives inputsV_(S-1), to V_(S-N) from multiple power sources. Each of these inputsV_(S-1), to V_(S-N) are inrush limited by a current limiter 150 andfiltered by input filter 140. In one embodiment, input filter 140 is anLC pre-filter and is applied to reduce electro magnetic interference.The output of each filter 140 is coupled to power switching controlcircuit 130. Advantageously, current limiting circuit 150 provides inrush current protection from the input voltages V_(S) and provides asoft start control signal to power switching control circuit 130. Inputpower sharing circuit 175 receives the multiple inputs V_(S-1) toV_(S-N) and shares the combined power to provide an output voltageV_(LOAD) as determined by the load specifications. In one embodimentoutput voltage V_(LOAD) is greater than any one input V_(S). Outputvoltage V_(LOAD) is variable based on the application. V_(LOAD) isprovided based on multiple independent power sources and used to powerauxiliary equipment.

Input power sharing circuit 175 further includes interface 104 tofunctional circuit 113. At interface 104, input power sharing circuit175 provides the output voltage, V_(LOAD), to power functional circuit113. It is understood that interface 104 is typically a logicalinterface between input power sharing circuit 175 and functional circuit113 on a circuit board. Advantageously, current limiting circuit 150linearly increases the voltage V_(S-1), to V_(S-N) provided to powerswitching control circuit 130 and in turn the voltage at interface 104to thereby limit potentially destructive in rush currents whenelectronic module 100 is plugged into a live system. Current limitingcircuits 150-1 to 150-N are each adapted to receive input V_(S-1), toV_(S-N) from multiple power sources of the system. In a system withmultiple inputs (V_(S-1), to V_(S-N)) current limiting circuits 150-1 to150-N also protect electronic module 100 from a single point failuresuch as a short of one of the inputs (V_(S)).

Input power sharing circuit 100 further includes a power ORing circuit120 adapted to receive power from multiple inputs V_(S-1), to V_(S-N).Power ORing circuit 120 is coupled to power switching control circuit130 and operates as a logical OR to provide input bias voltage V_(in)when power is received from one or more sources V_(S). In oneembodiment, power ORing circuit 120 includes an ORing diode coupled toeach input V_(S).

Interface 102 couples power ORing circuit 120 to power switching controlcircuit 130. Interface 102 is adapted to couple to additional circuitry,such as control circuitry, switching circuitry and the like thatmodifies the voltage input V_(S) to power switching control circuit 130based on the particular application. For example the input voltagesV_(S) may exceed the required voltage for a particular functionalcircuit 113 and additional circuitry is required to regulate the voltageprovided to power switching control circuit 130.

Functional circuit 113 receives the output voltage V_(LOAD) of powerswitching control circuit 130. Voltage set points for poweringfunctional circuit 113 are based on the particular application. Thisselection of voltages is based on the available voltages from eachvoltage input source V_(S) and the electronic specifications of thefunctional circuit 113. For example, in one embodiment, the functionalcircuit 113 is a variable speed fan and voltage set points are 9 Volts,10.5 Volts and 12 Volts. This selection of voltages was chosen based onthe available voltages from the line cards or other components and thefunctional circuit 113 specifictions. Other combinations of voltagelevels and power levels are possible, depending on the availablevoltages and component specifications. In other embodiments, functionalcircuit 113 comprises any functional circuit for an electronic modulethat requires power e.g. life line services, monitoring, fault detectionand the like. In one embodiment, functional circuit 113 includesadditional inputs 116 that communicate with system components. In oneembodiment, functional circuit 113 may include the entire system load.

In one embodiment, power switching control circuit 130 is constructed asshown and described below with respect to FIG. 2. In another embodiment,power switching control circuit 130 is constructed as shown anddescribed below with respect to FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a power switchingcontrol circuit 230 according to the teachings of the present invention.Power switching control circuit 230 is a discontinuous boost converterand includes multiple boost inductors 250-1 to 250-N. Inductors 250 areeach coupled to switching transistor 260 and diode 256. Power switchingcontrol circuit 230 includes a pulse width modulator (PWM) 254 that actsas a switching regulator and controls switching transistor 260, in turnregulating the output voltage V_(LOAD). In one embodiment, pulse widthmodulator 254 is a voltage mode pulse width modulator/controller, acurrent mode pulse width modulator/controller or the like. PWM 254causes the switching of power transistor 260 at a defined current levelin the boost inductors 250. Switching transistor 256 is coupled to arectifying diode 256. Power switching control circuit 230 includes acapacitor filter 258. In one embodiment, switching transistor 260 is apower MOSFET switch transistor.

In operation, inductors 250 accumulate energy from the input voltagesource V_(S) when switching transistor 260 is on and releases energy tothe output V_(LOAD) through diode 256 and filtered by capacitor 258 whenswitching transistor 260 is off. The output voltage V_(LOAD) is relatedto a reference voltage generated or derived from the input voltage V_(S)and is controlled by varying the duty ratio D of switching transistor260.

The peak current of inductors 250 is controlled by the operation ofpower switching control circuit 230 in a discontinuous mode. Controllingthe peak current in inductors 250 effectively controls the directcurrent coming into discontinuous power switching control circuit 230.The peak current in each of inductors 250 is a function of the inputvoltage (V_(S)), inductance of 250 and “on time” for switch transistor256 as controlled by the pulse width modulator 254. The amount of timethat the pulse width modulator 254 turns on (on time) the switchtransistor is dependent on the inductances of 250, operating frequencyof PWM 254, the input voltage(s) V_(S), the output voltage and theoutput power. The use of separate inductors 250 for each input voltage(V_(S)) enables the forced sharing of power between power sources(V_(S-1), to V_(S-N)). Power sources (V_(S)) may be received from one ormore different sources. Inductors 250 are valued based on the inputvoltages V_(S-1), to V_(S-N) to electronic module 100 and the requiredoutput voltage V_(LOAD). For example if the input voltages aresubstantially equal in value then inductors 250 are of equal value toone another.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a power switchingcontrol circuit 330 according to the teachings of the present invention.Power switching control circuit 330 is a discontinuous fly back (buckboost) converter and includes multiple inductors 350-1 to 350-N. In oneembodiment, inductors 350 are transformers having one or more secondarywindings. Inductors 350 are each coupled to switching transistor 360 anddiode 370. Power switching control circuit 330 includes a pulse widthmodulator (PWM) 354 that acts as a switching regulator, regulating theoutput voltage V_(LOAD). In one embodiment, pulse width modulator is avoltage mode pulse width modulator/controller, a current mode pulsewidth modulator/controller or the like. In one embodiment, switchingtransistor 360 is a power MOSFET switch transistor. Switching transistor360 is coupled to diode 370. In one embodiment, power switching controlcircuit 330 includes a capacitive filter 358.

The peak current of inductors 350 is controlled by the operation ofpower switching control circuit 330 in a discontinuous mode. Controllingthe peak current in inductors 350 effectively controls the directcurrent coming into discontinuous power switching control circuit 330.The peak current in each of inductors 350 is a function of the inputvoltage (V_(S-N)), inductance of 350 and “on time” for the pulse widthmodulator 354. The amount of time that the pulse width modulator 354turns on (on time) the switch transistor 360 is dependent on theinductances of inductors 350, operating frequency of PWM 354,respectively, the input voltage(s) V_(S), the output voltage V_(LOAD)and the output power. The use of separate inductors 350 for each inputvoltage (V_(S)) enables the forced sharing of power between powersources (V_(S-1) to V_(S-N)). Power sources (V_(S)) may be received fromone or more different sources. Inductors 350 are valued based on theinput voltages V_(S-1), to V_(S-N) to electronic module 100 and therequired output voltage V_(LOAD). For example if the input voltages aresubstantially equal in value then inductors 350 are of equal value toone another.

In a basic fly back converter, inductor 350 accumulates energy from theinput voltage source V_(S) when switching transistor 360 is on andreleases energy to the output V_(LOAD) through diode 370 and filtered bycapacitor 358 when the switching transistor 360 is off. The outputvoltage V_(LOAD) is related to the input voltage V_(in) and iscontrolled by varying the duty ratio D of switching transistor 360.

In one embodiment, in operation, input voltages V_(S) are OR'd togetherby a power ORing circuit such as 120 of FIG. 1 and provided to pulsewidth modulator 254, 354. When an input power sharing circuit such asinput power sharing circuit 175 of FIG. 1 contains one of powerswitching control circuits 230, 330 and receives power from two or morevoltage input sources V_(S), current conduction is forced through two ormore, respective, inductors 250, 350, simultaneoustly. This simultaneousconduction of current through two or more inductors 250, 350, acting inquasi-parallel, provides the input power sharing control.

Rectifier diode 256 provides a current continuation path when switchingtransistor 260 is off. Diode 356 provides a current continuation pathwhen switching transistor 360 is off. Inductors 250, 350 and capacitors258, 358, respectively, in each circuit act as filters and attenuate theswitching ripple at the output.

Power switching circuits 230, 330 are each adapted to couple to a load290, 390, respectively. In one embodiment, a resistor or a combinationcapacitor and resistor circuit represents loads 290, 390. Loads 290, 390maybe internal or external to power switching control circuits 230, 330,respectively. The output voltage V_(LOAD) and the impedance of the load290, 390 control the output power. In one embodiment, load 290, 390comprises an appropriate functional circuit, e.g. a line card fortelecommunications equipment such as a digital subscriber line card.Alternatively, in other embodiments, load 290, 390 comprises any otherappropriate electronic circuitry.

Based upon the particular application and the number of input powersources the input power sharing circuit 175 operates as as aconventional discontinuous power converter. When two or more voltageinputs V_(S) are applied to input power sharing circuit 175 power issupplied by all applied sources. The current in boost inductors 250 iscontrolled by three variables, the input voltage V_(S), the boostinductor 250 value, and the switching transistor 260 on time. For powerswitching control circuit 230, when the input voltages V_(S) aresubstantially identical and the inductances of inductors 250 aresubstantially identical, and since the switching transistor on time mustbe identical, since it connects to each boost inductor 250, the currentsin each boost inductor 250 will be equal. For power switching controlcircuit 330, the current in inductors 350-1 to 350-N is controlled bythe input voltage V_(S), the value of inductors 350-1 to 350-N, and theswitching transistors 360-1 to 360-N, respectively. When the inputvoltages V_(S) are substantially identical, the inductances of inductors350 are substantially identical, and the switching transistors' on time360 is substantially identical the currents in each inductor 350 will beequal.

In additon, the input power V_(S) for two sources will decrease toapproximately one-half of the single input power level, if the outputvoltage and power remain constant. Similarily, for three sources theinput power from each assembly will be approximately one-third of thatfor a single input with constant output voltage and power.

In embodiments where the input Voltages V_(S-1), to V_(S-N) aresubstantially equivalent the output of each filter 140 is connected toseparate boost inductors 250 having the same value. Inductors 250 arethen coupled to rectifier diode 256 and switching power transistor 260.Discontinous power switching control circuits 230, 330 act as switchingpower supplies that have multiple inductors 250, 350 on their respectiveinput lines. In embodiments employing power switching control circuit230 as a discontinuous boost converter the output voltage V_(LOAD) isalways higher than the input voltage V_(in). In embodiments employingpower switching control circuit 330, a flyback converter the outputvoltage V_(LOAD) may be less than or greater than the magnitude of theinput voltage V_(in).

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams of alternate embodiments of powerswitching control circuit 130 of FIG. 1 according to the teachings ofthe present invention. The circuits of 230 and 330 have a limitationthat these embodiments overcome. Power switching control circuit 230requires that the output voltage always exceed the input voltage, withthe additional constraint that the output voltage is always of the samepolarity as the input voltage. Power switching control circuit 330 hasthe limitation that the output voltage is of the opposite polarity asthe input voltage. Its output voltage range is not, however limited inrange. The circuits of 430 and 530 use a transformer to overcome theselimitations. The output voltage may be either greater or less than theinput voltage, and of either polarity. The transformer allows thepolarity to change, and also allows for optimization of the power stagebased on input an output requirements. For example, a high voltage inputwith a low voltage output (or vice versa) may create an inefficientcircuit or one that is difficult to achieve in practice. Power switchingcontrol circuits 430 and 530 are discontinuous fly back converters andeach include multiple transformers 452-1 to 452-N and 552-1 to 552-N.

Transformers 452-1 to 452-N are each coupled to switching transistors460-1 to 460-N, respectively. Power switching control circuit 430includes a pulse width modulator (PWM) 454 that acts as a switchingregulator and controls each switching transistor 460-1 to 460-N, in turnregulating the output voltage V_(LOAD). In one embodiment, pulse widthmodulator is a voltage mode pulse width modulator/controller, a currentmode pulse width modulator/controller or the like. PWM 454 causes theswitching of power transistors 460-1 to 460-N at a defined current levelin the transformers 452. Transformers 452-1 to 452-N are each coupled toa diode 474-1 to 474-N, respectively. In one embodiment, switchingtransistors 460 are power MOSFET switch transistors. Power switchingcontrol circuit 430 includes a capacitor filter 458.

Power switching control circuit 530 includes transfomers 552-1 to 552-Nthat are coupled to a single switching transistor 560. Power switchingcontrol circuit 530 further includes a pulse width modulator 554 thatacts as a switching regulator and controls switching transistor 560, inturn regulating the output voltage V_(LOAD). In one embodiment, pulsewidth modulator is a voltage mode pulse width modulator/controller, acurrent mode pulse width modulator/controller or the like. PWM 554causes the switching of power transistor 560 at a defined current levelin transformers 552. Transformers 552-1 to 552-N are each coupled to adiode 474-1 to 474-N, respectively. Power switching control circuit 530also includes a capacitor filter 558.

The power switching control circuits 330 and 430 each have multipleswitching transistors 360 and 460 respectively. This enables multiplephase control and independent current control for each input voltageV_(S). In one embodiment, this requires N pulse width controllers 354,454 and additional control circuitry. As a result, this will allowsystem inputs with large differences in the available input voltagepower to share power equally.

In embodiments described with respect to FIG. 3 the output voltageV_(LOAD) is of opposite polarity to the input voltage V_(S). In theembodiments employing a transformer as found in FIGS. 4 and 5, apositive output voltage is possible with a positive input voltage. It isnoted that although FIGS. 2-5 indicate positive input voltages V_(S) thepower switching control circuits 230, 330, 430 and 530 are all capableof receiving negative input voltages. For example, when presented withnegative input voltages V_(S), power switching control circuit 230 ofFIG. 2 will produce a negative output voltage V_(LOAD) whose absolutevalue is greater than the absolute voltage of the input voltage V_(S).In addition to the reverse polarity of the input voltage V_(S), thepolarities of transistor 260 and rectifying diode 256 will also bereversed.

Power switching control circuit 330 is capable of receiving negativeinput voltages V_(S) and will produce a positive output voltage V_(LOAD)whose absolute value is greater than, equal to or less than inputvoltages V_(S). The polarities of transistor 360 and diode 370 will alsobe reversed.

1. An input power sharing control circuit, the circuit comprising: apower switching control circuit adapted to receive power from aplurality of input power sources and provide a variable output power;the power switching control circuit including: a plurality of switchingtransistors each adapted to couple to one of the plurality of inputpower sources; a plurality of substantially equal inductors each adaptedto coupled to one of the plurality of switching transistors and tocontrol the current for each of the plurality of input power sources;and a pulse width modulator coupled to the switching transistor andadapted to regulate the variable output power by controlling the on timeof the switching transistor;
 2. The control circuit of claim 1, whereinthe variable output power is greater than the power from each of theplurality of power input sources.
 3. The control circuit of claim 1,wherein the power switching control circuit is a discontinuous fly backconverter.
 4. The control circuit of claim 1, wherein a plurality ofsubstantially equal inductors adapted to control the current for each ofthe plurality of input power sources comprises a plurality ofsubstantially equal inductors adapted to boost the current for each ofthe plurality of input power sources.
 5. An input power sharing controlcircuit, the circuit comprising: a power switching control circuitadapted to receive power from a plurality of substantially equal inputpower sources and provide a variable output power; the power switchingcontrol circuit including: a plurality of substantially equaltransformers adapted to receive power from the plurality of input powersources and control the current for each of the input power sources; aplurality of switching transistors each adapted to couple to one of theplurality of transformers; a pulse width modulator adapted to couple toeach of the plurality of switching transistors and regulate the outputpower by controlling the on time of the plurality of switchingtransistors.
 6. The control circuit of claim 5, wherein the variableoutput power is greater than power of each of the plurality of inputpower sources.
 7. The control circuit of claim 5, wherein the powerswitching control circuit is a discontinuous fly back converter.
 8. Thecontrol circuit of claim 5, wherein a plurality of substantially equalinductors adapted to control the current for each of the plurality ofinput power sources comprises a plurality of substantially equalinductors adapted to boost the current for each of the plurality ofinput power sources.
 9. An input power sharing control circuit, thecircuit comprising: a power switching control circuit adapted to receivepower from a plurality of substantially equal input power sources andprovide an output power that is greater than each of the plurality ofpower inputs; the power switching control circuit including: a pluralityof substantially equal transformers adapted to receive the power inputsand boost the current for each power input; a switching transistorcoupled to each of the plurality of transformers; and a pulse widthmodulator adapted to couple to the switching transistor and regulate theoutput power by controlling the on time of the switching transistor. 10.The control circuit of claim 9, wherein the power switching controlcircuit is a discontinuous fly back converter.